Film-on-spool sensor for determining mode of operation of film transport mechanism in camera

ABSTRACT

A photographic camera has a motorized film transport mechanism which is operable in a load mode after a light-tight cartridge containing an unexposed filmstrip is loaded into the camera and is operable in an expose mode for picture-taking. In the load mode, the transport mechanism first prewinds substantially the entire length of the filmstrip from the cartridge onto a take-up spool without exposing any of the frames on the filmstrip and then rewinds a predetermined length of the filmstrip off the take-up spool to position the first frame for exposure. In the expose mode, the transport mechanism rewinds the filmstrip one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each exposure is completed. When a shutter release member is manually actuated, a film-on-spool sensor cooperates with a bi-directional control to operate the transport mechanism in its load mode in response to sensing that the take-up spool is empty and to operate the transport mechanism in its expose mode in response to sensing that film is present on the take-up spool. Thus, the film-on-spool sensor determines the mode of operation of the transport mechanism.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to commonly assigned, copending patent application Ser. No. 869,520, entitled FRAME COUNTER INITIALIZATION SENSOR FOR TRIGGERING FILM REWIND WHEN CAMERA DOOR OPENED PREMATURELY, and filed June 2, 1986 in the name of Stephen Malloy Desormeaux.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to the field of photographic cameras and in particular to those cameras in which a filmstrip is first prewound from a cartridge onto a take-up spool without exposing any of the frames on the filmstrip and then is rewound one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each exposure is completed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typically in a number of 35 mm cameras, there is included a motorized film transport mechanism. In operation, a leading end portion of the filmstrip extending from a light-tight cartridge loaded in the camera is attached automatically to a take-up spool. The take-up spool is rotated after each exposure is completed to advance successive frames of the filmstrip from the cartridge across the focal plane of a taking lens and onto the take-up spool. Each time the take-up spool is rotated, an unexposed frame on the filmstrip is located in the focal plane of the taking lens and an exposed frame is wound onto the take-up spool. When the fresh film supply has been exhausted, a trailing end portion of the filmstrip remains attached to a supply spool inside the cartridge. This end of film condition is signalled by a sudden increase in the film tension and in the motor current as the take-up spool attempts to withdraw the remainder of the filmstrip from the cartridge. A tension sensing mechanism responds to the increase in film tension, or a detecting circuit responds to the increase in motor current, by reversing the motor drive to rotate the supply spool inside the cartridge. The rotated spool draws the exposed filmstrip off the take-up spool and rewinds it into the cartridge. Then, a rear door of the camera is opened and the cartridge is removed in order to process the filmstrip.

If the rear door of the camera is accidentally or inadvertently opened before the filmstrip is completely wound off the take-up spool and back into the cartridge, the exposed frames on the take-up spool may be ruined by stray light. To prevent this occurance, cameras have been recently provided with a motorized film transport mechanism which prewinds substantially the entire length of the filmstrip onto the take-up spool before any exposures are taken. Then, after each exposure is completed, the filmstrip is rewound one frame at a time back into the cartridge. Thus, the exposed frames will be protected within the cartridge from stray light should the rear door be opened prematurely.

Typically, in a camera which first prewinds the filmstrip onto a take-up spool without exposing any of the frames and then rewinds the filmstrip one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each exposure is completed, selection of either a load (prewind) mode or an expose (rewind) mode of operation of the motorized film transport mechanism may be accomplished manually, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,148, granted Feb. 17, 1981, or automatically, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,460,256, granted July 17, 1984, 4,504,131, granted Mar. 12, 1985, and 4,586,801, granted May 6, 1986. In each patent, the mode determining means suffers the disadvantage that it is mechanically complex and, therefore, is expensive to implement in a camera. Moreover, there is not provided any positive assurance that film is present on the take-up spool when the expose mode is employed. For example, in the '801 patent, a switch for sensing that a cartridge is present in the camera and that a rear door is closed cooperates with a tension sensing mechanism and a mode change-over member to release the member to effect a change-over from the load mode to the expose mode in response to a sudden increase in the film tension produced by the end of prewinding of the filmstrip onto a take-up spool. However, in the '801 patent, it may be possible for the filmstrip to be tensioned because of a snag before the filmstrip is wound onto the take-up spool, in which instance the expose mode would be introduced prematurely.

THE CROSS-REFERENCE APPLICATION

Patent application Ser. No. 869,520, cross-referenced above, discloses an expose on rewind type camera in which, when a rear door is opened accidentally with the filmstrip in midroll, a frame counter is initialized to an original setting and respective switches sensing that the counter is initialized and that substantially any film is present on the take-up spool command a logic circuit to continuously rewind the remaining film back into the cartridge. Then, after the take-up spool is emptied, the film-on-spool sensing switch senses that the filmstrip is removed from the take-up spool and, thereupon, commands the logic circuit to de-energize the film drive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an improved apparatus for determining the mode of operation of a motorized film transport mechanism in an expose on rewind type camera.

According to the invention, there is provided a camera having a motorized film transport mechanism which is operable in a load mode after a light-tight cartridge containing an unexposed filmstrip is loaded into the camera and is operable in an expose mode for picture-taking. In the load mode, the transport mechanism first prewinds substantially the entire length of the filmstrip from the cartridge onto a take-up spool without exposing any of the frames on the filmstrip and then rewinds a predetermined length of the filmstrip off the take-up spool to position the first frame for exposure. In the expose mode, the transport mechanism rewinds the filmstrip one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each exposure is completed. When a shutter release member is actuated, a film-on-spool sensor cooperates with a bi-directional control to operate the transport mechanism in its load mode in response to sensing that the take-up spool is empty and to operate the transport mechanism in its expose mode in response to sensing that film is present on the take-up spool. Thus, the film-on-spool sensor determines the mode of operation of the transport mechanism by sensing whether or not film is present on the take-up spool as a pre-condition to selecting either the load mode or the expose mode when the shutter release member is actuated. This, in contrast to the prior art described above, is relatively simple and advantageously provides a positive assurance that film is present on the take-up spool when the expose mode is employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved apparatus for determining the mode of operation of a motorized film transport mechanism in an expose on rewind type camera, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the improved apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, shown with the rear door opened;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the improved apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, shown with the rear door closed;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a control circuit included in the improved apparatus; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b together form a flow chart illustrating operation of the control circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a 35 mm camera. Because the features of this type camera are well known, the description which follows is directed in particular to photographic elements forming part of or cooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is understood, however, that other elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

In the type of camera to be described those photographic elements shown in the drawings will be assigned successive reference numbers. Other photographic elements not shown in the drawings are well known or conventional and will not be assigned any reference numbers. Thus, in the description which follows, the absence of a reference number in connection with a mentioned element indicates that such element is not shown in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown certain elements of a 35 mm camera of the type in which substantially the entire length of a filmstrip F is pre-wound from a light-tight film cartridge C onto a take-up spool or drum 1 before any exposures are taken at an aperture 3. Then, after each exposure at the aperture 3, the filmstrip F is rewound one frame at a time back into the cartridge C. This is done to protect the exposed frames on the filmstrip F in the event a rear door 5 of the camera is accidentally or inadvertently opened prematurely, i.e., before the filmstrip is rewound completely into the cartridge.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a coaxial shaft 7 connects a metering sprocket 9 and a metering gear 11 to enable the sprocket and the gear to rotate in unison. The metering sprocket 9 engages successive perforations P in the filmstrip F as the filmstrip is pre-wound onto the take-up spool 1 and is rewound back into the cartridge C. The metering gear 11 continuously engages a counter gear 13 which is rotatably mounted atop a swing plate 15. The swing plate 15 is supported on the shaft 7, beneath the metering gear 11, for pivotal movement about the shaft without disengaging the counter gear 13 from the metering gear. A motion-transmitting stud 17 is coaxially fixed atop the counter gear 13 and has a single recess 19 for receiving successive peripheral teeth 21 of a rotatable counter disk 23 to rotate the disk in accordance with rotation of the counter gear. When the rear door 5 is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, it abuts against the swing plate 15 to maintain the motion-transmitting stud 17 in a position against at least one of the peripheral teeth 21 of the counter disk 23. The counter disk 23 is located on the outside of the camera and has thirty-six evenly spaced numbered settings represented by the numbers "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . 36" imprinted on the disk. These numbers correspond to successive frames on the filmstrip F. An original empty setting of the counter disk 23 is represented by the letter "E" imprinted on the disk. This is to indicate that the camera is empty.

When the filmstrip F is pre-wound onto the take-up spool 1, the metering sprocket 9 is rotated by pre-winding movement of the filmstrip to increment the counter disk 23 from its original "E" setting to a maximum number setting, such as the "36" setting or a lesser number setting, to indicate the maximum number of unexposed frames on the filmstrip F. Conversely, as the filmstrip F is rewound back into the cartridge C after each exposure is completed, the metering sprocket 9 is rotated by rewinding movement of the filmstrip to decrement the counter disk 23 one setting at a time from its maximum number setting to indicate the remaining number of unexposed frames on the filmstrip. In operation, the metering sprocket 9, the metering gear 11, the counter gear 13, and the motion-transmitting stud 17 are each rotated one revolution between successive frames.

When the rear door 5 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, a separating spring 25 urges the swing plate 15 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction about the shaft 7 into abutment against a stop pin 27 on a frame portion of the camera. This will cause the motion-transmitting stud 17 to move out of its position against at least one of the peripheral teeth 21 of the counter disk 23 to thereby release the disk. Release of the counter disk 23 allows a relatively light initializing spring 29 to rotate the counter disk 23 to initialize the disk to its original "E" setting. A stop pin 31 on the underside of the counter disk 23 contacts a fixed pin 33 on a frame portion of the camera to halt the counter disk 23 at its "E" setting and, simultaneously, to close a normally open switch SW_(C).

When the rear door 5 is re-closed, as shown in FIG. 3, it pivots the swing plate 15 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 7 to return the motion-transmitting stud 17 to its position against at least one of the peripheral teeth 21 of the counter disk 23. A releasable latch is provided to maintain the door 5 closed to hold the motion-transmitting stud 17 in this position.

The take-up spool 1 includes a relieved annular portion 35 on its periphery having a smaller diameter than the remainder of the take-up spool. A film-on-spool sensor 37 is pivotally mounted on a frame portion of the camera by a pivot pin 39 and includes a resiliently flexible sensing finger 41 for sensing the presence and the absence of the filmstrip F on the take-up spool 1. A return spring 45 urges the film-on-spool sensor 37 to normally position an idler roller 47 on a free end of the sensing member 41 in abutment against the relieved annular portion 35 of the take-up spool 1, as shown in FIG. 2. When a leading end portion L of the filmstrip F is initially wound onto the take-up spool 1, a longitudinal section X of the first convolution of the filmstrip will be spaced opposite the relieved annular portion 35. See FIG. 3. The idler roller 47 will ride on the longitudinal section X, thereby being separated from the relieved annular portion 35. This causes the film-on-spool sensor 37 to swing in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 39 to close a normally open switch SW_(F).

In FIG. 4, there is schematically depicted a motorized film transport mechanism 49 comprising a conventional bi-directional motor 51 and a conventional drive transmission 53. As shown, the transmission 53 is coupled to the metering sprocket 9 and to respective drive hubs 55 and 57 which engage the take-up spool 1 and a supply spool within the cartridge C. When the cartridge C is loaded in the camera, as shown in FIG. 2, the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F is placed over the metering sprocket 9 to position one or more successive perforations P in the leading end portion in engagement with the sprocket. The motorized film transport mechanism 49 initially rotates the metering sprocket 9 in order to advance the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F onto the take-up spool 1. The take-up spool 1 has respective teeth 59 for engaging the successive perforations P in the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F and is rotated by the motorized transport mechanism 49 at a faster speed than the metering sprocket 9. A film tension responsive clutch or other suitable means in the transmission 53 de-couples the metering sprocket 9 from its rotational drive in response to the resulting pull on the filmstrip F caused by engagement of the leading end portion L of the filmstrip to the faster rotating take-up spool 1. Thereafter, the metering sprocket 9 operates in an idling capacity, that is, it is rotated by movement of the filmstrip F from the cartridge C onto the take-up spool 1 and back into the cartridge.

In addition to the switch SW_(F) associated with the sensing finger 41 of the film-on-spool sensor 37 and the switch SW_(C) associated with the stop pin 31 on the underside of the counter disk 23, there are provided respective switches SW_(B) and SW_(M) associated with a shutter release button 61 and the metering sprocket 9. The four switches SW_(C), SW_(B), SW_(F), and SW_(M) are connected to a conventional digital microcomputer 63 such as used in many cameras. The microcomputer 63 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 65, a random access memory (RAM) 67, a read only memory (ROM) 69, a two second timer 71, a three second timer 73, and an up/down counter 75. As is described below, the microcomputer 63 is used to control operation of the motorized film transport mechanism 49 to prewind a substantial length of the filmstrip F onto the take-up spool 1 and to rewind the filmstrip back into the cartridge C. The switch SW_(C) is closed by the stop pin 31 on the underside of the counter disk 23 when the disk is initialized to its original "E" setting and is opened by separation of the stop pin from the switch when the disk is first rotated by movement of the metering sprocket 9 to prewind the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F onto the take-up spool 1. The switch SW_(B) is closed each time the shutter release button 61 is depressed by the photographer to initiate a film exposure and is opened when the button is released. The switch SW_(F) is closed by the sensing finger 41 of the film-on-spool sensor 37 when the sensing finger is moved away from the take-up spool 1 in response to pre-winding of the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F onto the spool and is opened when the sensing finger returns to the spool once the filmstrip is substantially wound off the spool. The switch SW_(M) is closed by a cam 77 on the shaft 7, as shown in FIG. 1, each time the metering sprocket 9 is rotated a single revolution. When the metering switch SW_(M) is closed, a metering pulse is generated in the microcomputer 63. The metering pulse is counted up in the up/down counter 75 during pre-winding movement of the filmstrip F, to increment the counter by "1", and is counted down during rewinding movement of the filmstrip, to similarly decrement the counter. A non-volatile memory 79 or other means, such as a back-up battery, is provided to maintain the pulse count in the up/down counter 75 when the camera is shut down and any filmstrip is present on the take-up spool 1.

OPERATION

FIGS. 5a and 5b together form a flow chart which illustrates four routines of the microcomputer 63 which are effected in cooperation with the switches SW_(C), SW_(B), SW_(F), and SW_(M) to control operation of the motorized film transport mechanism 49.

(1) Load Mode

This mode corresponds to the routine L of the microcomputer 63. If the switch SW_(C) is closed because the counter disk 23 is in its original "E" setting, the switch SW_(F) is open because no film is present on the take-up spool 1, and the switch SW_(B) is closed because the shutter release button 61 is depressed, the motor 31 is energized to drive the transmission 53 in a pre-wind direction for film movement as depicted by the arrow P in FIG. 4. At this time, the transmission 53 rotates the metering sprocket 9 and the drive hub 55 for rotating the take-up spool 1. The drive hub 57 for rotating the supply spool within the cartridge C is disconnected from the transmission 53, allowing the supply spool to idle. After the motor 51 is energized, the up/down counter 75 begins to count up from "0" by "1", each time a metering pulse is produced in response to closing of the switch SW_(M) when the metering sprocket 9 completes a single revolution. If the switch SW_(F) is closed because the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F has been wound onto the take-up spool 1, the up/down counter 75 re-begins its count up from "0" and the two sec. timer 71 is begun. The substantial length of the filmstrip F, following the leading end portion L, is then pre-wound onto the take-up spool 1. If the up/down counter 75 is incremented by "1" before the two sec. timer 71 times out, the timer is begun again. After the substantial length of the filmstrip F has been pre-wound onto the take-up spool 1, the take-up spool is prevented from withdrawing the remainder of the filmstrip from the cartridge C because a trailing end portion of the filmstrip is attached to the supply spool within the cartridge. This end of film condition causes film movement to stall. As a result, the up/down counter 75 is not incremented by "1" before the two sec. timer 71 times out. This causes the motor 51 first to be de-energized and then to be re-energized in an opposite direction to drive the transmission 53 in a rewind direction for film movement as depicted by the arrow R in FIG. 4. The reversed transmission 53 pivots a gear or the like into driving relation with the drive hub 57 for the supply spool within the cartridge C, causing the hub and the spool to be rotated by the transmission. Simultaneously, the up/down counter 75 begins a countdown of the metering pulses from its total count obtained during pre-winding. When the up/down counter 75 is decremented by "1", the first frame of the filmstrip F will be in the focal plane of the taking lens. Then, the motor 51 is de-energized, thereby concluding the load mode L.

(2) No-Load Mode

This mode corresponds to the routine N-L of the microcomputer 63. If, in the load mode L, the switch SW_(F) is open because the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F is not wound onto the take-up spool 1 after the motor 51 is energized to drive the transmission 53 in the pre-wind direction and if, in the no-load mode N-L, the up/down counter 75 counts up to "3", but the switch SW_(F) has not closed because the take-up spool remains empty, the motor is de-energized and the counter is reset to "0", thereby concluding the no-load mode.

(3) Expose Mode

This mode corresponds to the routine E of the microcomputer 63. If the switch SW_(C) is open because the counter disk 23 is in a numbered setting, rather than in its original "E" setting, the switch SW_(B) is closed because the shutter release button 61 is depressed, and the switch SW_(F) is closed because film is present on the take-up spool 1, the motor 31 is energized to drive the transmission 53 in the rewind direction. As a result, the supply spool within the cartridge C is rotated by the drive hub 57 to rewind an exposed frame into the cartridge, and the take-up spool 1 is rotated by the drive hub 55 to advance a fresh frame off the take-off spool and into the focal plane of the taking lens. When the up/down counter 75 is decremented by "1", but the counter has not dropped to "0", the motor 51 will be de-energized, thereby concluding the exposure mode E. Otherwise, if the up/down counter 75 has dropped to "0", then, when the switch SW_(F) is closed because the filmstrip F has been completely wound off the take-up spool, the three sec. timer 73 is begun. When the three sec. timer 73 times out, the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F will have been rewound into the cartridge C. Then, the motor 51 is de-energized and, merely as a precaution, the up/down counter 75 is re-intialized thereby concluding the exposure mode.

(4) Open Door Mode

This mode corresponds to the routine O-D of the microcomputer 63. If the switch SW_(C) is closed because the counter disk 23 is in its original "E" setting, but the switch SW_(F) is closed because film is present on the take-up spool 1, such as in the event the rear door 5 is accidentally or inadvertently opened before the filmstrip F is completely wound off the take-up spool 1, the motor 51 is energized to drive the transmission 53 in the rewind direction. Then, only when the switch SW_(F) is opened because the remaining film has been wound off the take-up spool 1, the three sec. timer 73 is begun. When the three sec. timer 73 times out, the leading end portion L of the filmstrip F will have been rewound into the cartridge C. Then, the motor 51 is de-energized and, merely as a precaution, the counter 75 is re-initialized, thereby concluding the open door mode.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications can be effected within the ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a combination of logic gates or switching circuits which make digital decisions may be used in controlling operation of the motorized film transport mechanism 49. In another example, a tension sensing member responsive to the sudden increase in film tension arising at the end of pre-winding, when the take-up spool 1 attempts to withdraw the remainder of the filmstrip F from the cartridge C, may be used to reverse the motor 51. In a third example, the up/down counter 75 may be connected to a decoder which, in turn, is connected to a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode array to provide an indication of the frame count. 

I claim:
 1. An improved photographic camera of the type wherein (a) motorized film transport means is operable in a load mode to first prewind a substantial length of an unexposed filmstrip from a light-tight cartridge onto a take-up spool without exposing any frames on the filmstrip and to then rewind a predetermined length of the filmstrip off said take-up spool to position a first frame for exposure and is operable in a picture-taking mode to rewind the filmstrip one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each frame is exposed, and (b) a shutter release member is actuatable to initiate operation of said motorized film transport means in its load or picture-taking mode, and wherein the improvement comprises:film-on-spool sensing means for sensing whether film is present on said take-up spool or the spool is empty; and control means, responsive to actuation of said shutter release member when said film-on-spool sensing means senses that said take-up spool is empty, for operating said motorized film transport means in its load mode, and responsive to actuation of said shutter release member when said film-on-spool sensing means senses that film is present on said take-up spool, for operating said motorized film transport means in its picture-taking mode, whereby said film-on-spool sensing means will determine the mode of operation of said motorized film transport means.
 2. An improved photographic camera of the type wherein (a) motorized film transport means is operable in a load mode to first prewind a substantial length of an unexposed filmstrip from a light-tight cartridge onto a take-up spool without exposing any frames on the filmstrip and to then rewind a predetermined length of the filmstrip off said take-up spool to position a first frame for exposure and is operable in a picture-taking mode to rewind the filmstrip one frame at a time back into the cartridge after each frame is exposed, (b) a metering sprocket engageable with successive perforations in the filmstrip is rotated a predetermined number of revolutions by said motorized film transport means in its load mode to enable the filmstrip to be secured to said take-up spool, and (c) a shutter release member is actuable to initiate operation of said motorized film transport means in its load or picture-taking mode, and wherein the improvement comprises:film-on-spool sensing means for sensing whether film is present on said take-up spool or the spool is empty; and control means, responsive to actuation of said shutter release member when said film-on-spool sensing means senses that said take-up spool is empty, for initiating operation of said motorized film transport means in its load mode, but ending operation of the film transport means in its load mode when said film-on-spool sensing means does not sense that film is present on said take-up spool by the time said metering sprocket has rotated said predetermined number of revolutions, and responsive to actuation of said shutter release member when said film-on-spool sensing means senses that film is present on said take-up spool, for operating said film transport means in its picture-taking mode, whereby said film-on-spool sensing means will determine the mode of operation of said film transport means.
 3. The improvement as recited in claim 2, wherein said film-on-spool sensing means includes a normally open film switch which is closed when film is present on said take-up spool and said control means includes a counter unit for counting the number of revolutions of said metering sprocket, said control means ending operation of said motorized film transport means in its load mode when said counter unit counts said predetermined number of revolutions of said metering sprocket and said film switch is open.
 4. The improvement as recited in claim 2, wherein said motorized film transport means includes a reversible motor which is rotated in a prewind direction to prewind the filmstrip onto said take-up spool and is rotated in a rewind direction to rewind the filmstrip off said take-up spool, and wherein said control means includes a counter unit for counting the number of revolutions of said metering sprocket and a timer unit which is reset when said counter unit counts one revolution of said metering sprocket within a predetermined interval of time and which times out when said counter unit does not count a revolution of said metering sprocket within said predetermined interval of time, said control means being responsive to said timer unit timing out for changing rotation of said motor from its prewind direction to its rewind direction. 